The cost of doula care depends on the level of support you desire and the doula’s level of experience. At Birthways we can create customized packages for your needs, but the average costs for labor and postpartum doulas are listed below.

Labor support doulas

A traditional labor support package ranges from $1,900 - $2,500.

At Birthways, this gets you:

• 1:1 with our Care Coordinator and their matchmaking expertise
• Free interviews as you select your Birthways doula
• A 24/7 on-call doula beginning at 37 weeks of pregnancy
• Up to 3 prenatal visits focused on your preparation and preferences for birth and early postpartum
• Continuous support through labor and delivery
  Postpartum follow-up visit to check-in on how everyone is doing at home
• 30 minutes of free Warmline support for basic feeding questions

Postpartum doulas

The cost of a postpartum doula is typically based on an hourly rate which depends on:

• Your location
• A single baby or multiples
• Daytime or overnight support
• Number of hours contracted

At Birthways, you can get postpartum support from $36 per hour. Consultations, care planning, care management, and warmline are included.

Investing in a doula can save you time and money in the long-run. Instead of having to rely on Google, friends, or family members to answer your childbirth, pregnancy or postpartum questions, you have someone who can provide reliable advice that could prevent complications in the future. A doula can provide tips and insights that help you understand what’s normal and what’s not, potentially helping to reduce the number of times you need to call or visit your doctor.

Doula services are generally not covered by insurance. Whether or not the cost of a doula will be covered by your insurance provider depends on your specific insurance plan. We highly recommend checking with your insurance provider to confirm if they cover the cost of doula services.

Birthways will match you with a doula that meets Carrot’s requirements, as well as assist you in completing the doula attestation form provided by Carrot. You will pay Birthways directly for the doula services booked, and submit the form to Carrot for reimbursement.

Birthways encourages you to reach out to your employer for specific details regarding your Carrot benefit and requirements.

You may be able to use your Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to cover the cost of doula services. You will need a letter of medical necessity provided by your doctor to show that the costs of a doula are a true medical expense.

Birthways accepts HSA card payment for our doula services. Please confirm with your specific insurance provider that doula services are considered a qualified medical expense.

Medicaid does not currently cover doula services in Illinois. At this time, there are six states in which Medicaid covers doula services: Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Maryland, Oregon, and Virginia. Research shows that doula services can save money by reducing the unnecessary C-sections and preterm births, so many states are looking to include doulas under Medicaid coverage in the future

As a form of birth support, the cost of doulas may be tax-deductible as a medical expense if you itemize deductions. We recommend checking with your tax advisor to see whether you can deduct the costs of hiring a doula.